Deja, this piece is such a raw and honest reflection on the tension many of us feel between our upbringing and our need for personal growth. I deeply resonate with the struggle of craving approval from those who shaped us, especially when we realize that their approval might not be the source of fulfillment we once hoped for. Your acknowledgment of this internal conflict, coupled with the courage to push through it, is so powerful.
I appreciate the vulnerability in admitting that even as adults, we still long for validation from the people who may not be able to provide it in the way we need.
Meredith, thank you so much for taking the time to share this with me. It means a lot to know the piece resonated so deeply. That longing for approval runs so much deeper than we often realize, and it can follow us into adulthood in ways that are hard to name until we finally face it. I’m learning that growth sometimes asks us to release expectations we carried since childhood, while still holding love and compassion for the people who shaped us.
I’m grateful to know this landed with you. We’re not alone in navigating that tension, and I’m glad we get to hold space for it together. Thank you again for reading and reflecting with such care.
Deja, this piece is such a raw and honest reflection on the tension many of us feel between our upbringing and our need for personal growth. I deeply resonate with the struggle of craving approval from those who shaped us, especially when we realize that their approval might not be the source of fulfillment we once hoped for. Your acknowledgment of this internal conflict, coupled with the courage to push through it, is so powerful.
I appreciate the vulnerability in admitting that even as adults, we still long for validation from the people who may not be able to provide it in the way we need.
Meredith, thank you so much for taking the time to share this with me. It means a lot to know the piece resonated so deeply. That longing for approval runs so much deeper than we often realize, and it can follow us into adulthood in ways that are hard to name until we finally face it. I’m learning that growth sometimes asks us to release expectations we carried since childhood, while still holding love and compassion for the people who shaped us.
I’m grateful to know this landed with you. We’re not alone in navigating that tension, and I’m glad we get to hold space for it together. Thank you again for reading and reflecting with such care.